Labor & Employment

Walter Killough will step down as CEO of the 109 unit Delia’s retail chain on April 1.

The retail said it and Killough reached a mutual agreement not to renew his employment agreement which was scheduled to expire on August 2. Plans now call for Killough to leave the company on April 1, however he may stay on longer if a replacement has not been named.

New York -- Office Depot announced that Kevin Peters had resigned from his role as president of the retailer’s North American division, effective immediately.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal has named John D. Goodman to serve as its new CEO, with his appointment effective Jan. 7. He replaces former CEO Susan McGalla, who was fired by the company in July 2012 amid sliding sales.

NEWTON, Mass. — Former Reebok and New Balance executive Chris Cohen has been named VP of sales at Topo Athletic.

Founded in December 2012, Topo is a brand focused on designing innovative athletic gear that amplifies the natural mechanics of the human body. In his new role, Cohen will lead North American sales and sales operations for Topo.

Nineteen of the nation’s leading retail and CPG companies received perfect scores on the 2013 Corporate Equality Index compiled by the Human Rights Campaign.

The Human Rights Campaign released its 2013 Corporate Equality Index, which gives companies ratings of up to 100% based on their policies regarding LGBT employees and also released a buyer's guide for LGBT consumers. According to the equality advocacy group, a total of 1,848 companies were invited to submit applications, of those 530 actually did so and of those 252 received scores of 100%.

Chicago -- General Growth Properties said Thursday it was informed by Brookfield Asset Management that affiliates of Brookfield acquired the GGP warrants held by affiliates of Pershing Square Capital Management.

The warrants represent the right to acquire 18.43 million shares of GGP stock at a value of $0.01 per share.

General Growth also said it has been offered by Brookfield the right to acquire the warrants, for the same price of $271.88 million paid by Brookfield, within the next 30 days.

Office Depot on Friday announced that Kevin Peters had resigned from his role as president of the retailer’s North American division effective immediately.

Office Depot said Peters was leaving the company after five years to become CEO of an unidentified industrial distribution company.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced that senior executive VP and CFO David J. Oakes has been named president of the company, effective Jan. 1.
 
Oakes will remain CFO, and will continue to report to CEO Daniel B. Hurwitz.
 
Oakes joined DDR as executive VP of finance and chief investment officer in April 2007. He was promoted to senior EVP finance and chief investment officer in December 2008, and CFO in February 2010.